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source: Waltham Economy Of Asia Review
By Yu-Shan Wu
Hallyu, or Korean Wave, 한류, is the growing aspiration to know more about Korean culture. The term was originated in mid 1999 by Beijing journalists surprised at the fast growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture in China. The wave has started in East Asia and swept over Southeast Asia. Recently, it has even landed in the Middle East and part of Europe. The Korean Wave has extended the cultural understanding and interaction between South Korea and the rest of Northeast Asia and further created more business opportunity between countries. Based on Harvard professor Joseph Nye, he describes this wave as a soft power, and this soft power could create faith in culture, polices and institutions to win the battle of hearts instead of using traditional forms such as military power to gain awareness from countries.
The soap opera and k-pop (Korean pop music) have been the two main sources
of the Korean Wave in China. In 2003, the Korean television drama “Winter Sonata” was first shown on Japanese television in twenty episodes. It captured 22% of the prime time viewing audience. In 2004 Winter Sonata had its second showing and this time it captured 24% of viewing audience.
drama not only created the honor for the main character Bae Yong Joon but for the Korean drama business. Demand by fans for Winter Sonata merchandise has created an industry with an annual turnover in Japan and Korea worth 2.3 billion US dollars. Even the wife of the Japanese president was into this trend and drama.
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Come back to its influence to other counties, China, with an autocratic government, will definitely not allow this hallyu invade into China. In 2001 Hu Jintao has elucidated that the Chinese Communist Party would never allow any actions threatening China’s socialist foundation and further. In January 2006, China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television announced that Korean dramas were to be cut by half. However, with the invention of more powerful route such as online video website, the hallyu fever is inevitable in china. Until 2012, China has imported 10-15 times more cultural products from Korea than it has exported. However, recently, China is gradually accepting this trend and further cooperates with this hallyu trend ex: joint production with korean entertainment producer. By utilizing South Korea’s filming techniques and China’s stage production techniques generate economic and cultural gains for both countries.
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Hallyu is contagious, it can go from person to person, country to country, plus the advance video spreading tools, its hard to avoid this culture invasion. (Example: PSY oppa ganam style) Hallyu could be an unstoppable influence in Asia now, but we cannot promise that there will not be next “Chinese style” “Thai style” invading the world. Government really should learn from Korea and be supportive when private sector needed. Hallyu starts from entertainment sector too and with government support, they are able to have ease export all over the world.
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For full article, please click the link below:
http://brandeisear.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/hallyu-an-unstoppable-influence-in-asia/
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